Sūta addressed the king and said, “O King, when this was heard, the king asked, ‘Who among them is truly the fool?’” To this, it was answered, “He who instructed the tiger is considered even more foolish than the rest.” Thus concluded the twenty-first chapter, summarizing the narrative of Kali Yuga in the Caturyuga section of the Pratisarga Parvan of the illustrious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa. Continuing, Sūta spoke: “In a previous birth, I was known as Kṣatrasiṃha, a king. In my village lived a learned brāhmaṇa, well-versed in the Vedas and their branches. This brāhmaṇa had two sons, both highly skilled in all branches of knowledge. The younger son, named Mohana, became particularly devoted to Śakti. Once, I, Kṣatrasiṃha, desiring to perform a sacrifice for ritual purposes, personally arranged a goat-sacrifice, which is dear to the gods. Among those present was Śaṃbhudatta, a man of mature spirit, devoted to the worship of Śiva. With great care and joy, he performed the fire-ritual, offering delightful oblations. At that time, Līladhara, seeing the goat about to be sacrificed, reflected deeply and thought, ‘Such violence against life leads to a terrible hell.’ Hearing these words of caution from his elder brother, Mohana responded, ‘In the former Satya Yuga, O brother, brāhmaṇas were devoted to sacrifice. Yet, they considered offering sesame seeds in the fire to be superior to sacrificing a goat. They spoke sweetly, saying, “Your opinion yields no fruit.”’ At that very moment, a pitṛ named Amāvasu appeared before them, ascending a splendid aerial chariot. Without fear, he addressed the assembled sages. Hearing his words, the sages acted accordingly and attained auspiciousness. Upon hearing these grave words, Līladhara, noble in intellect, reflected further. He understood that the world, dominated by the quality of passion, arose in the Treta age. In that era, the gods were satisfied by offerings, but not by flesh born of blood. Therefore, he ensured that complete oblations were performed with fruits and other pure things. In the course of events, the city, along with its men and women, was burned. By the power of great illusion, Śaṃbhudatta, beloved of Śiva, acted. Then, Līladhara the brāhmaṇa, who lived with his ten sons, continued his life. In time, I, Kṣatrasiṃha the king, approached Mohana. With reverence, I offered salutations: ‘Salutations to you, O Ambā; salutations again and again to the great heroine. By reciting the Seven Hundred, even Viṣṇu obtained the Vaiṣṇavī power. Pranava is your offspring, and you are dear to the fourth person. In your body the universe resides—salutations again and again to you, Ambā. You are Śacī, you are success, death, radiance, the army of the gods, beloved of the guardians of the worlds; indeed, you are the mother of the world—salutations again and again. Thirst, satisfaction, pleasure, conduct, violence, patience, thought, and movement—by the power of these eight, O king, Kṣatrasiṃha was empowered. Therefore, O Vikramaditya, worship Durgā, the eternal One. By these questions and answers, O king, you have been examined by me. All the cities and various fields have been destroyed by robbers. The king who restores all the sacred places will be the one who brings righteousness back to the land. This is the era known as Vikrama, which once again upholds dharma. At the end of that time, a powerful portion of Krishna will be born on earth. All the sages, such as Sūta, dwelling in Naimishāraṇya, O great king, will become devoted to listening to the Purāṇas.’ Having spoken thus, Vaitāla disappeared right there.